Union Minister of State for Foreign Affairs General (retd) VK Singh (centre) being felicitated at an election rally by BJP candidate Ganesh Joshi in Mussoorie on Saturday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, February 4

Union Minister of State for Foreign Affairs General VK Singh (retd) today said in order to keep the national honour intact and good future prospects for the youth, a BJP government was a must in Uttarakhand. He was addressing an election rally organised in support of BJP Candidate from Mussoorie Ganesh Joshi at Vijay Pur in Hathbarkala Naya Gaon.He said Prime Minister Narendar Modi was working 20 hours a day and due to such dedication the flag of the country was swaying around the world with pride. He sought votes for Ganesh Joshi and said the state had seen nothing but corruption in the past five years and the present government had been indulging in corrupt practices all these years.Gen VK Singh (retd) took a dig at the previous UPA government at the Centre and said it used to announce every year that all villages would be electrified but nothing happened. “It is the BJP government that had embarked on a mission of electrifying all villages in the country by 2018. The BJP does not release a manifesto but a pledge note. The vision document released for the state today will usher in development according to the aspirations of people,” he added.He appealed to people to vote for Joshi. Asked about the issues of ex-servicemen, he said he could not comment on these due to the election model code of conduct but the government was seriously considering these. Joshi thanked the Union minister for the support and hoped with love and affection of people he would again emerge victorious.Lt Gen OP Kaushik (retd) also addressed the gathering. Joshi presented a Gorkhali cap carrying a symbolic khukri on its top to Gen VK Singh. Yesterday, senior BJP leader Bhagat Singh Koshyari also appealed to people to vote for Joshi.